U.S. patent application number 10/027675 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-03 for system for excitation of a leadless miniature marker.
Invention is credited to Dimmer, Steven C..
Application Number | 20030122653 10/027675 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21839140 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030122653 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dimmer, Steven C. |
July 3, 2003 |
System for excitation of a leadless miniature marker
Abstract
A system for generating a pulsed excitation field for excitation
of a leadless marker assembly. One aspect of the system comprises a
source generator assembly having a power supply, an energy storage
device, a switching network and a source coil interconnected and
configured to deliver a pulsed magnetic excitation signal waveform.
The power supply is configured to deliver power to energize the
energy storage device. The switching network is configured to:
direct electrical current through the source coil; alternately
switch between a first on position and a second on position; switch
to an off position to prevent energy transfer from the energy
storage device to the source coil; alternately transfer stored
energy from the energy storage device to the source coil and to
transfer stored energy from the source coil back to the energy
storage device; and the source coil being coupled to the switching
network to generate a pulsed excitation signal.
Inventors: |
Dimmer, Steven C.; (City of
Bellevue, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PERKINS COIE LLP
PATENT-SEA
P.O. BOX 1247
SEATTLE
WA
98111-1247
US
|
Family ID: |
21839140 |
Appl. No.: |
10/027675 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/10.1 ;
340/12.1; 340/572.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 2090/3958 20160201;
A61B 2017/00411 20130101; A61N 2005/1051 20130101; A61B 34/20
20160201; A61B 90/36 20160201; A61N 5/1049 20130101; G01B 7/003
20130101; A61B 2090/3975 20160201; A61B 2034/2051 20160201; G01B
7/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
340/10.1 ;
340/825.49; 340/572.1 |
International
Class: |
H04Q 005/22 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A system for generating a pulsed excitation field for excitation
of a leadless marker assembly, comprising: a source generator
assembly having a power supply, an energy storage device, a
switching network and a source coil interconnected and configured
to deliver a pulsed magnetic excitation signal waveform; the power
supply configured to deliver power to energize the energy storage
device; the switching network configured to: direct electrical
current through the source coil; alternately switch between a first
on position and a second on position; switch to an off position to
prevent energy transfer from the energy storage device to the
source coil; alternately transfer stored energy from the energy
storage device to the source coil and to transfer stored energy
from the source coil back to the energy storage device; and the
source coil being coupled to the switching network to generate a
pulsed excitation signal.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the pulsed magnetic excitation
field source signal has a generally triangular-shaped bipolar
waveform having a positive and negative polarity.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the pulsed magnetic excitation
signal has a generally triangular-shaped unipolar waveform having
only a single polarity.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the pulsed magnetic excitation
signal has a non-sinusoidal waveform having a positive and negative
polarity.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy storage device is a
capacitor.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the switching network includes at
least two switches configured to switch voltage across the source
coil between a positive voltage polarity and a negative voltage
polarity.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the switching network includes a
first H-bridge.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the switching network includes a
first H-bridge configured to switch voltage across the source coil
between a positive voltage polarity and a negative voltage
polarity.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the electrical current directed
through the source coil has a generally triangular-shaped waveform,
and the switching network includes a first H-bridge configured to
cyclically switch voltage across the source coil between a positive
polarity and a negative polarity.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein the power supply delivers
electrical current to energize the energy storage device, and the
switch network is configured so the electrical current cycles
between having a positive polarity and a negative polarity to
provide signal pulse bursts, and in each signal pulse burst the
electrical current has a positive polarity and a negative polarity
for substantially the same period of time.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein the switch network is configured
to move to the off position when electrical current in the switch
network is at approximately zero amps.
12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a leadless resonating
marker remote from the source coil and the source generator
assembly, and being excitable by the pulsed magnetic excitation
signal to generate a marker resonant signal with selected frequency
components.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the switching network is
configured to substantially prevent the source coil from generating
any excitation signal within one cycle or less of the marker
resonant signal.
14. The system of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of
sensors coupled to the source generator assembly and configured to
measure signals from the leadless marker assembly upon excitation
by the pulsed magnetic excitation signal.
15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pulse extinguisher
circuit coupled to the switching network and configured to reduce
the time constant of the residual source signal decay of the pulsed
magnetic excitation signal.
16. The system of claim 1 further comprising a marker signal
location system coupled to the source generator.
17. The system of claim 1 wherein the pulsed magnetic excitation
signal is a programmable pulse burst duration magnetic excitation
signal.
18. The system of claim 1 wherein the pulsed magnetic excitation
signal is a programmable pulse repetition frequency magnetic
excitation signal.
19. The system of claim 1 wherein the switching network and the
source coil are a first switch network and first source coil,
respectively, that generate a first source signal in a first
spatial orientation, and further comprising a second switch network
and a second source coil that generate a second source signal in a
second spatial orientation different than the first spatial
orientation.
20. The system of claim 19, further including a third switch
network and third source coil that generate a third source signal
in a third spatial orientation different than the first and second
spatial orientations.
21. A marker excitation system, comprising: a resonating, leadless
marker assembly excitable by a pulsed excitation source signal and
being configured to generate a marker signal at a selected resonant
frequency upon termination of the pulsed excitation source signal;
a pulsed source signal generating system having a power supply, a
switching network and a source coil coupled together and configured
for exciting the leadless marker assembly a plurality of location
sensors remote from the marker assembly and the pulsed source
generating system, the location sensors being configured to receive
the marker signal after the marker assembly is excited.
22. The system of claim 21 wherein the magnetic field source signal
is a non-sinusoidal waveform having both a positive and negative
polarity.
23. The system of claim 19, wherein the power supply is configured
to deliver power to energize an energy storage device, and the
switching network is configured to: direct electrical current
through the source coil to generate a pulsed magnetic excitation
field; alternately switch between a first on position and a second
on position to generate the pulsed magnetic field from the source
coil; switch to an off position to prevent energy transfer from the
energy storage device to the source coil; and alternately transfer
stored energy from the energy storage device to the source coil and
to transfer stored energy from the source coil back to the energy
storage device.
24. The system of claim 21 wherein the switch network and the
source coil are a first switch network and first source coil,
respectively, that generate a first source signal in a first
spatial orientation, and further comprising a second switch network
and a second source coil that generate a second source signal in a
second spatial orientation different than the first spatial
orientation.
25. The system of claim 24, further including a third switch
network and third source coil that generate a third source signal
in a third spatial orientation different than the first and second
spatial orientations.
26. The system of claim 21 wherein the switch network and the
source coil are a first switch network and first source coil that
generate a first source signal in a first spatial location, and
further comprising a second switch network and a second source coil
that generate a second source signal in a second spatial location
different than the first spatial location.
27. The system of claim 23, further including a third switch
network and a third source coil that generates a third source
signal in a third spatial location different than the first and
second spatial location.
28. The system of claim 21, further comprising a plurality of
resonating marker assemblies excitable by the pulsed magnetic
excitation field.
29. The system of claim 21 wherein the power supply, the switching
network and the source coil are interconnected to form a first
circuit, and the plurality of location sensors are coupled together
to form a second circuit separate from the first circuit.
30. The system of claim 21, further comprising a pulse extinguisher
circuit coupled to the switching network and configured to reduce a
time constant of a residual source signal decay of the pulsed
magnetic excitation field.
31. The system of claim 30, wherein the pulse extinguisher circuit
is configured to add no additional overall power dissipation of the
pulsed source signal generating system.
32. A marker excitation system, comprising a resonating leadless
marker assembly being excitable by a pulsed magnetic excitation
signal and being configured to generate a time decaying resonant
marker signal upon termination of the marker pulsed excitation
source signal; a plurality of location sensors remote from the
marker assembly and configured to receive the marker signal; and a
source generator assembly configured to deliver a pulsed magnetic
field source signal for a selected pulse burst time period and at
an adjustable pulse repetition frequency waveform, the source
generator assembly having a power supply, an energy storage device,
a switching network and a source coil coupled together and remote
for the marker.
33. The system of claim 32 wherein the power supply is configured
to deliver power to energize the energy storage device; and,
further comprising: a switching network configured to: direct
electrical current through the source coil to generate a pulsed
magnetic field; alternately switch between a first on position, and
a second on position to generate the pulsed magnetic field from the
sensor coil; switch to an off position to prevent energy transfer
from the energy storage device to the source coil; and alternately
transfer stored energy from the energy storage device to the source
coil and to transfer stored energy from the source coil back to the
energy storage device by switching between the first and second on
positions.
34. The system of claim 32 wherein the power supply, the energy
storage device, the switching network and the source coil are
interconnected to form a first circuit, and the plurality of
location sensors forms a second circuit separate from the first
circuit.
35. The system of claim 32 wherein the plurality of sensors are
configured to receive the marker signal substantially without
receiving the pulsed excitation signal during the measurement time
period.
36. The system of claim 32, further comprising a pulse extinguisher
circuit coupled to the switching network and configured to reduce a
time constant of a residual source signal decay of the pulsed
excitation signal.
37. A marker excitation system, comprising: a plurality of leadless
resonating marker assemblies excitable by a pulsed magnetic
excitation signal and configured to generate time-decaying marker
resonant signals at one or more selected resonant frequencies upon
termination of the marker pulsed excitation signal; a plurality of
location sensors remote from the marker assemblies and configured
to receive the marker signals when the marker assemblies are
excited; and a source generator assembly having a power supply, an
energy storage device, first and second switching networks, and
first and second source coils, the first switching network and the
first source coil being interconnected and configured to deliver a
first pulsed magnetic excitation signal at a pulse repetition
frequency, and the second switching network and the second source
coil being interconnected and configured to deliver a second pulsed
magnetic excitation signal at a pulse repetition frequency, and the
power supply being configured to deliver power to energize the
energy storage device, the energy storage device being
interconnected to the first and the second switching networks.
38. The system of claim 37 wherein the first switching network is
configured to: direct electrical current through the first source
coil to generate a first pulsed magnetic field; alternately switch
between a first on position and a second on position to generate
the first pulsed magnetic field from the first source coil; switch
to an off position to prevent energy transfer from the first energy
storage device to the first source coil; and alternately transfer
stored energy from the energy storage device to the first source
coil and to transfer stored energy from the first source coil back
to the energy storage device by switching between the first and
second on positions.
39. The system of claim 38 wherein the second switching network is
configured to: direct electrical current through the second source
coil to generate a second pulsed magnetic field; alternately switch
between a first on position, and a second on position to generate
the second pulsed magnetic field from the second source coil;
switch to an off position to prevent energy transfer from the
energy storage device to the second source coil; alternately
transfer stored energy from the energy storage device to the second
source coil and to transfer stored energy from the second source
coil back to the energy storage device by switching between the
first and second on positions.
40. The system of claim 37 wherein each source coil is configured
to generate a pulsed magnetic excitation signal having a spatial
orientation different from the spatial orientation of the other
pulsed magnetic source excitation signal.
41. The system of claim 37 wherein each source coil is configured
to generate the pulsed excitation signal having a spatial location
different from that of the other pulsed source excitation
signals.
42. A method of energizing a leadless marker assembly, comprising:
applying a pulsed voltage potential across a source coil to
generate a pulsed excitation source signal, the pulsed voltage
potential alternating between positive and negative polarities;
exciting a leadless resonating marker assembly with the pulsed
excitation source signal; generating a marker signal from the
resonating marker assembly after the resonating marker assembly is
excited; terminating the pulsed excitation source signal after the
resonating marker assembly is energized generating the marker
signal; and measuring the marker signal after the pulsed excitation
signal has been terminated.
43. The method of claim 42 wherein applying the pulsed voltage
potential across the source coil includes producing the magnetic
field source signal having a non-sinusoidal waveform having both a
positive and negative polarity
44. The method of claim 42 wherein measuring the marker signal is
performed after the pulsed excitation source signal is terminated
and is substantially immeasurable.
45. The method of claim 42, further comprises adjusting the pulsed
excitation source signal of the pulsed magnetic field to excite
markers of unique resonant frequencies.
46. The method of claim 42, further comprising exciting the marker
signal with a plurality of source coils positioned at unique
spatial orientations.
47. The method of claim 42, further comprising simultaneously
pulsing the plurality of source coils with unique waveforms to
excite a plurality of markers simultaneously.
48 The method of claim 42, further comprising reducing a time
constant of a residual source signal decay of the pulsed excitation
source signal with a pulse extinguisher circuit coupled to the
switching network.
49. A method of exciting a leadless marker assembly, comprising:
directing a current through a source coil to generate an excitation
source signal, the current being alternated between a first current
flow having a continuously increasing electrical current ramp with
time, and a second current flow having a continuously decreasing
electrical current ramp with time; exciting a leadless resonating
marker assembly with the excitation source signal; generating a
marker signal from a resonating marker assembly after the
resonating marker assembly is excited; and terminating the pulsed
excitation source signal after the resonating marker assembly is
energized generating the marker signal.
50. The method of claim 49 wherein the pulsed excitation source
signal is a non-sinusoidal waveform having both a positive and
negative polarity.
51. The method of claim 49, further comprising measuring the marker
signal after the pulsed excitation source signal has been
terminated.
52. A method of energizing a leadless marker assembly, comprising:
storing electrical energy in an energy storage device; directing
the energy from the energy storage device through a plurality of
switching mechanism to switch polarity of an energy potential
voltage of the energy between positive and negative polarities
across an inductance; directing the energy from the switching
mechanism across a source coil to generate a pulsed magnetic field;
energizing the leadless resonating marker assembly with the pulsed
magnetic field; terminating the pulsed magnetic field after the
resonating marker assembly is energized; and receiving the marker
signal by a plurality of sensors without simultaneously
substantially receiving the pulsed source magnetic field during
measurement of the marker signal.
53. The method of claim 52, further comprising using a pulse
extinguisher circuit coupled to the switching network and
configured to reduce the time constant of the residual source
signal decay.
54. The method of claim 52 wherein the electrical current is in a
substantially neutral condition at a time when the electrical
current changes between the positive and negative polarities and
the pulsed magnetic field is terminated when the electrical current
is in the neutral condition.
55. The method of claim 52 wherein the positive polarity of the
voltage across a coil inductance provides an increasing electrical
current ramp with time and the negative polarity of the voltage
across the coil inductance provides a decreasing electrical current
ramp with time.
56. The method of claim 52 wherein the marker signal has a resonant
frequency, and terminating the pulsed magnetic field includes
turning off electrical voltage at a selected time so the
substantially no electrical current reaches the source coil within
one cycle or less of the marker signal at the resonant
frequency.
57. The method of claim 52, further comprising adjusting the pulse
waveform of the pulsed magnetic field to excite markers of
different resonant frequencies.
58. The method of claim 52, further comprising using a pulse
extinguisher circuit coupled to the switching network and
configured to reduce the time constant of the residual source
signal decay.
59. A method of energizing a remote resonating, leadless marker
assembly, comprising: providing energy from an energy storage
device at an adjustable pulse repetition waveform, the electrical
energy having a voltage with a selected polarity; directing the
energy through a polarity switching mechanism to switch the
polarity of the voltage between positive and negative polarities
across a coil inductance; directing energy from the switching
mechanism through a source coil with a positive and negative
voltage polarity; generating a pulsed magnetic field from the
source coil; and energizing the leadless resonating marker assembly
with the pulsed magnetic field.
60. The method of claim 59, further comprising fully terminating
the pulsed magnetic field after the marker assembly is sufficiently
energized.
61. The method of claim 59, further comprising generating a marker
signal with a selected resonant frequency when the marker assembly
is energized, and switching the switching mechanism to an off
condition and reducing the source coil signal to substantially zero
with in approximately one cycle of the marker resonant signal.
62. The method of claim 59 wherein the positive polarity of the
voltage across a coil inductance provides an increasing electrical
current ramp with time and the negative polarity of the voltage
across the coil inductance provides a decreasing electrical current
ramp with time.
63. A method of energizing a leadless marker assembly, comprising:
storing electrical energy in an energy storage device; directing
the energy from the energy storage device through a polarity
switching mechanism to alternately transfer stored energy from the
energy storage device to the source coil and to transfer stored
energy from the source coil back to the second energy storage
device by alternately switching between the first and second on
positions; directing the electrical energy from the switching
mechanism through a source coil to generate a magnetic field;
energizing a leadless resonating marker assembly with the magnetic
field.
64. The method of 63 wherein the magnetic field source signal is a
non-sinusoidal waveform having both a positive and negative
polarity.
65. The method of 63 wherein the waveform frequencies of the
magnetic field are adjusted to excite multiple markers of unique
resonant frequencies.
66. The method of 63 wherein the waveform frequencies of the
magnetic field are adjusted to excite a first marker substantially
at the first marker resonant frequency.
Description
TECHCNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to systems for activating miniature
markers, and more particularly to systems for excitation of
resonating miniature marker assemblies for use in locating the
markers in three-dimensional space.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Systems have been developed to activate and detect remote
activatable marker assemblies positioned, as an example, in or on a
selected item or object. The markers generate a signal used to
detect the presence of the marker. Many of the activatable markers
are hard-wired to a power source or other equipment external from
the object. Other systems have been developed that utilize
resonating leadless markers, also referred to as wireless active
markers, positionable at or near a selected target. These wireless
active markers are typically activated or energized by a remote
excitation source that generates a strong continuous excitation
signal. Accordingly, the markers generate a detectable marker
signal that must be distinguished from the strong continuous
excitation signal and then analyzed in an effort to try to
accurately determine the target's location. The process of
distinguishing a weak marker signal from the strong continuous
excitation signal, while maintaining sufficient accuracy for
determining the marker's location, has proven to be very
difficult.
[0003] Other systems have provided detection of leadless markers to
determine a two-dimensional proximity (e.g., X, Y coordinates) to
detectors for use with game boards, surgical tag detection devices,
and medical tube placement verification systems. In the case of the
game boards, a unique game piece with a resonator of a
predetermined frequency is moved across the game board, and the X
and Y location ordinates of the game piece relative to the game
board are displayed so the players can determine the general
location of the game piece on the game board. U.S. Pat. No.
5,853,327 to Gilboa identifies that the X, Y coordinates, as a
function of amplitude or phase, may be determined experimentally
for a given game board design. Additionally, Z distance away from
the game board may be determined to a sufficient accuracy for game
use by the strength of the signal above the game board provided
that the signal is not a strong function of the X and Y locations.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,368 to Ryan provides a system for determining
in two dimensions which individual square of a chess board a
particular chess piece is on during a chess game. The system
disclosed by Ryan does not determine the Z direction.
[0004] In the case of the surgical tag and detection device, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,026,818 to Blair discloses surgical devices, such as
sponges, that have activatable resonator tags thereon. A probe with
an interrogation ring is provided that can be scanned over an area
of a patient after surgery to determine if any surgical devices
having the resonator tags have been left behind. Therefore, the
detection device of Blair is only detecting the existence or
proximity of a surgical tag with the interrogation ring, rather
than the actual location of the activatable tags.
[0005] In the case of the medical tube placement verification
device, U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,873 to Hirschi et al. teaches a system
that detects the general position of an object within a body of
tissue. The detection system includes a resonant circuit attached
to the object and a separate detection probe having a visual
display indicating the direction which the probe should be moved to
center the detection probe over the object.
[0006] The systems of the above patents activate the markers with a
pulsed excitation signal generated by driving an untuned source
coil with either a unipolar polarity to produce a wide band impulse
function or a bipolar polarity to create a waveform that more
closely matches the desired resonant frequency of the marker. The
required levels of magnetic excitation for the markers in the above
patents are relatively low such that the excitation energy in the
source coil is substantially consumed after each pulse due to the
pulse circuitry resistive losses. The source coils are driven by
linear amplifiers, and in one case by linear amplifiers at both
ends of the coil, and by a simple pulse network that energizes the
coil and extinguishes resistively. The amplitude of the pulsed
excitation signal required for these applications is relatively low
since either the resonator circuit to be located is of a large
size, the volume in which the resonator must be located is
relatively small, or the accuracy requirements locating the
resonator are quite low. Accordingly, the existing systems are not
suitable for use in many situations wherein highly accurate
determinations of the marker's location in three-dimensional space
are required. The existing systems may also not be suitable for use
with efficient, high-energy systems for energizing the marker
assemblies so as to provide a sufficient marker signal for use in
determining the location of the marker in three-dimensional space
relative to remote sensors.
[0007] Other systems have been developed for proximity detection of
resonator tags for Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) systems.
The requirements for EAS systems are to detect the presence of a
security tag within a six-foot wide aisle using one antenna
assembly for both excitation and detection of the tag within the
aisle. Some EAS systems utilize tuned resonant excitation source
coil drive circuitry for pulsed resonator tag operation. As an
example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,696 to Balch et al. discloses a linear
amplifier using current feedback linear power amplifiers to drive
an excitation source tuned to resonant coils for use in pulsed EAS
systems. The current feedback is used to adjust the linear
amplifier's drive current level provided to the tuned excitation
source coil load. The current feedback is also used to provide for
a relatively constant current drive for exciting resonant EAS tags
in the field. The source coil is tuned to allow for use of a
simple, low voltage linear amplifier circuit design. The source
coil current pulse waveform is determined by the summation of the
sinusoidal control signal and the drive current feedback signal
input to the linear amplifier.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,693 to Balch et al. discloses the use of
linear power amplifiers to drive tuned excitation source coils for
use in pulsed EAS systems. An apparatus for switching power to a
linear amplifier is provided to turn to an "on" state and an "off"
state used to control the output drive pulse burst of the tuned
excitation source coils. Balch et al. '693 also identifies that
linear amplifiers which generate drive signals for a tuned source
coil since linear amplifiers are typically only about thirty to
forty percent efficient. The inherent inefficiency of the linear
amplifier drive is improved by switching the amplifier power "on"
and "off" at the same time that the pulse control input signal to
the power supply is switched "on" and "off" position.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,076 to Herring teaches one of more
damping circuits provided in series with excitation source coils
and used to promote rapid dampening of the pulsed excitation
interrogation signals at the end of each signal pulse. Providing
the switchable damping circuits in series with the antenna
increases the power dissipation of the device during pulse delivery
due to added damping circuit switch resistance in the antenna
current path.
[0010] The above systems employ a resonator circuit energized with
a pulsed excitation signal and the resonator response signal is
measured with sensing coils. The amplitude of the pulsed excitation
signal required for these applications is relatively low since
either the resonator circuit to be located is of a large size, the
volume in which the resonator must be located is relatively small,
or the accuracy requirements locating the resonator are quite
low.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Under one aspect of the invention, a system is provided for
generating a pulsed magnetic field for excitation of a leadless
marker assembly. The system includes a source generator assembly
having a power supply, an energy storage device, a switching
network and an untuned source coil interconnected and configured to
deliver a pulsed magnetic excitation signal waveform. In one
embodiment, the waveform can be configured to contain sufficient
energy at the selected leadless marker resonant frequency to
energize the marker sufficiently above the ambient environment
background noise. The power supply can be configured to deliver
power to energize the energy storage device. The switching network
can be configured to direct electrical current through the source
coil to generate a pulsed magnetic field; alternately switch
between a first "on" position and a second "on" position;
alternately switch between the first and second "on" positions,
switch to an "off" position to prevent energy transfer from the
energy storage device to the source coil; alternately transfer
stored energy from the energy storage device to the source coil and
to transfer stored energy from the source coil back to the energy
storage device when switching between the first and second "on"
positions; and the untuned source coil being coupled to the
switching network to generate a pulsed excitation signal.
[0012] Other embodiments of the invention can have other features.
Other embodiments are directed toward methods of energizing a
leadless marker assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric view of a system for pulsing
and locating leadless markers in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment of an
implantable miniature resonating marker assembly usable in the
system of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the pulse excitation
system of FIG. 1 illustrating a pulsed generator, a signal
processing device, a sensor array, and leadless markers.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the
pulsed source generator of FIG. 3.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a schematic voltage diagram showing the voltage
across a source coil of the system of FIG. 1 during excitation "on"
and excitation "off" phases over time for the pulsed excitation and
location of the marker assembly.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a schematic bipolar current diagram during the
excitation "on" and excitation "off" phases over time of FIG. 9 for
pulsed excitation and location of a marker assembly.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a schematic electrical diagram of an alternate
embodiment of the system of FIG. 3, the system including a pulse
distinguishing circuit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] In the following description, certain specific details are
set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various
embodiments of the invention. However, one skilled in the art will
understand that the invention may be practiced without these
details. In other instances, well-known structures associated with
magnetic excitation systems, resonating markers, and activators
have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily
obscuring the description of the embodiments of the invention.
[0021] FIGS. 1-7 illustrate a system and components for generating
an excitation signal for activating a resonating marker assembly
and locating the marker in three-dimensional space in accordance
with embodiments of the present invention. Several of the
components described below with reference to FIGS. 1-7 can also be
used in systems for performing methods in accordance with aspects
of the present invention. Therefore, like reference numbers refer
to like components and features throughout the various figures.
[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric view of a system 10 for
pulsing and locating one or more leadless resonating marker
assemblies 14 in three-dimensional space relative to a sensor array
16 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The
system 10 includes a pulsed source generator 18 that generates a
pulsed magnetic excitation field or signal 20 that energizes the
marker assemblies 14. The energized marker assemblies 14 generate a
measurable marker signal 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the
marker assemblies 14 are positioned in or on a selected object 24
in a known orientation relative to each other. The marker signals
22 are measured by a plurality of sensors 26 in the sensor array
16. The sensors 26 are coupled to a signal processor 28 that
utilizes the measurement of the marker signals 22 from the sensors
26 to calculate the location of each marker assembly 14 in
three-dimensional space relative to a known frame of reference,
such as the sensor array 16.
[0023] In the illustrated embodiment, as discussed in greater
detail below, the pulsed source generator 18 is configured to
generate the pulsed excitation signal 20 until one or more marker
assemblies 14 have been sufficiently energized to generate the
marker signals 22 and the pulsed source generator 18 is switched
off. Once the pulsed source generator 18 is switched off, the
excitation signal 20 terminates and is not measurable. Accordingly,
the sensors 26 in the sensor array 16 will receive only the marker
signals 22 without any interference or magnetic field distortion
induced by the excitation signal 20. Termination of the excitation
signal 20 occurs before a measurement phase in which marker signals
22 are measured. Such termination of the excitation signal before
the measurement phase when the energized marker assemblies 14 are
generating the marker signals 22 allows for a sensor array 16 of
increased sensitivity that can provide data of a high signal to
noise ratio to the signal processor 28 for extremely accurate
determination of the three-dimensional location of the marker
assemblies 14 relative to the sensor array or other frame of
reference.
[0024] The miniature marker assemblies 14 in the system 10 of the
illustrated embodiment are inert, activatable assemblies that can
be excited to generate a signal at a resonant frequency measurable
by the sensor array 16 remote from the target 24. In one
embodiment, the miniature marker assemblies 14 have, as one
example, a diameter of approximately 2 mm and a length of
approximately 5 mm, although other marker assemblies can have
different dimensions. An example of the marker detection system is
described in detail in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/877,498, titled GUIDED RADIATION THERAPY SYSTEM, filed Jun. 8,
2001, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference
thereto.
[0025] The illustrated marker assembly 14 includes a coil 30 wound
around a ferromagnetic core 32 to form an inductor. The inductor is
connected to a capacitor 34, so as to form a signal element 36.
Accordingly, the signal element 36 is an inductor (L) capacitor (C)
resonant circuit. The signal element 36 in one embodiment is
enclosed and sealed in an encapsulation member 38 made of plastic,
glass, or other inert material. The illustrated marker assembly 14
is a fully contained and inert unit that can be used, as an
example, in medical procedures in which the marker assembly is
secured on and/or implanted in a patient's body.
[0026] Other marker assemblies 14 are described in detail in
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/954,700, titled
MINIATURE RESONATING BEACON ASSEMBLY, filed Sep. 14, 2001, which is
also incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.
Other leadless marker assemblies 14 that may be used are described
in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/078,982, titled
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BRACKETING AND REMOVING TISSUE, filed May,
14, 1998; PCT Application No. PCT/U.S.00/31667 titled SYSTEMS AND
METHODS FOR LOCATING AND DEFINING A TARGET LOCATION WITHIN A HUMAN
BODY, filed Nov. 17, 2000; and PCT/U.S.00/31673, titled SYSTEMS AND
METHODS FOR STABILIZING A TARGET LOCATION WITHIN A HUMAN BODY,
filed Nov. 17, 2000, all of which are incorporated herein in their
entireties by reference thereto.
[0027] The marker assembly 14 is energized, and thus activated, by
the magnetic excitation field or signal 20 generated by the pulsed
source generator 18 such that the marker's signal element 36
generates the measurable marker signal 22. The strength of the
measurable marker signal 22 is high relative to environmental
background noise at the marker resonant frequency, thereby allowing
the marker assembly 14 to be precisely located in three-dimensional
space relative to the sensor array 16.
[0028] The pulsed source generator 18, in one embodiment, is
adjustable to generate a pulsed magnetic field 20 having a waveform
that contains energy at selected frequencies that substantially
match the resonant frequency of the specifically tuned marker
assembly 14. When the marker assembly 14 is excited by the magnetic
field 20, the signal element 36 generates the response marker
signal 22 containing frequency components centered at the marker's
resonant frequency. After the marker assembly 14 is energized for a
selected time period, the pulsed source generator 18 is switched to
the "off" position so the pulsed excitation signal 20 is terminated
and provides no measurable interference with the marker signal 22
as received by the sensor array 16.
[0029] The marker assembly 14 is constructed to provide an
appropriately strong and distinct signal by optimizing marker
characteristics and by accurately tuning the marker assembly to a
predetermined frequency. Accordingly, multiple uniquely tuned,
energized marker assemblies 14 may be reliably and uniquely
measured by the sensor array 16. The unique marker assemblies 14 at
unique resonant frequencies may be excited and measured
simultaneously or during unique time periods. The signal from the
tuned miniature marker assembly 14 is significantly above
environmental signal noise and sufficiently strong to allow the
signal processor 28 (FIG. 1) to determine the marker assembly's
identity, precise location, and orientation in three dimensional
space relative to the sensor array 16 or other selected reference
frame.
[0030] The system 10 of the illustrated embodiment in FIG. 1 can be
used in many different applications in which the miniature marker's
precise three-dimensional location within an accuracy of
approximately 1 mm can be uniquely identified within a relatively
large navigational volume, such as a volume of 12 cm.times.12
cm.times.12 cm or greater. One such application is the use of the
system 10 to accurately track the position of targets (e.g.,
tissue) within the human body. In this application, the leadless
marker assemblies 14 are implanted at or near the target so the
marker assemblies move with the target as a unit and provide
positional references of the target relative to a reference frame
outside of the body. Such a system could also track relative
positions of therapeutic devices (i.e., surgical tools, tissue
ablation devices, radiation delivery devices, or other medical
devices) relative to the same fixed reference frame by positioning
additional leadless marker assemblies 14 on these devices at known
locations or by positioning these devices relative to the reference
frame. The size of the leadless markers use on therapeutic devices
may be increased to allow for greater marker signal levels and a
corresponding increase in navigational volume for these
devices.
[0031] The system 10 is configured to generate a sufficient source
excitation magnetic field signal, as an example, source excitation
coil Magnetic Dipole Moment approximately greater than 0.5
A*m.sup.2, at the appropriate frequency to energize the one or more
marker assemblies significantly above the environmental background
noise. The system 10 also generates excitation source magnetic
field flux signals at orthogonal spatial orientations (e.g., along
the X, Y and Z axes) to excite a marker assembly 14 that may be a
resonator having a single coil substantially oriented along a
single axis and spatially orthogonal to excitation energy along the
other two axes. The system 10 can also be configured to generate
excitation source magnetic field flux signals at variable
frequencies to energize a plurality or marker assemblies 14 that
contain resonant circuits tuned to these unique frequencies.
Accordingly, the multiple marker assemblies 14 can be sequentially
or simultaneously energized.
[0032] The system 10 is also configured to avoid the difficult
process of separating the small marker signal 22 from the much more
powerful source excitation signal 20 by measuring the marker signal
during a time period when the source signal is substantially not
present. The residual source excitation signal 20 can cause
substantially less accurate results in the location determination
if not controlled. The system 10 provides for the measurement of
the marker signal 22 with a sufficient number of spatially
distributed sensors 26 at a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio so
that an inversion algorithm provided in the signal processor 28 can
accurately solve for the three-dimensional location of the
particular marker assembly 14 relative to the known reference frame
of the sensor array 16.
[0033] FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the system 10 in
accordance with one embodiment. As seen in FIG. 3, the plurality of
leadless miniature marker assemblies 14 on the target 24 are remote
from the pulsed source generator 18 and from the sensor array 16.
The sensor array 16 is operatively coupled to the signal processing
device 28.
[0034] The pulsed source generator 18 includes a high voltage power
supply 40 coupled to an energy storage device 42. In one
embodiment, the power supply 40 is a 500-volt power supply,
although other power supplies with higher or lower voltages can be
used. The energy storage device 42 in one embodiment is a high
voltage capacitor that can be charged and maintained at a
relatively constant charge by the power supply 40. Energy stored in
the storage device 42 allows for providing energy to and removing
energy from the source coil inductor. A small amount of stored
energy is present in the source coil inductor at maximum current
relative to the energy stored in the energy storage device 42.
[0035] The energy storage device 42 is capable of storing adequate
energy to minimize voltage droop in the energy storage device while
having a low series resistance so as to minimize power losses. The
energy storage device 42 also has a low series inductance to allow
for maximum source generator excitation capability to drive the
source coil 46. Specialized aluminum electrolytic capacitors used
in flash energy applications may be used in one of the embodiments
of system 10. Alternative energy storage devices can also include
NiCd and lead acid batteries, as well as alternative capacitor
types, such as tantalum, film, or the like.
[0036] The pulsed source generator 18 of the illustrated embodiment
also includes a switching network 44 coupled between the energy
storage device 42 and a plurality of source coils 46. The switching
network 44 is configured to control the polarity of the voltage
across the source coils 46 and the resultant current magnitude and
polarity with time through the source coils so that the source
coils 46 each generate the high energy excitation field 20 for
activating the maker assemblies (FIG. 1).
[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, the excitation source coils
46 includes three coils orthogonally oriented to correspond to the
X, Y, and Z axes of a selected frame of reference. The three coils
will be referred to herein as the X coil 48, Y coil 50, and Z coil
52, each of which is configured to provide a magnetic field flux
signal along the respective X, Y, and Z axes. The X, Y, and Z coils
48, 50, and 52 with their orthogonal orientation effectively avoid
blind spots for excitation of marker assemblies 14 and can allow
the marker assemblies to be in any orientation relative to the
pulsed source generator 18 and still be highly energized upon
activation of the excitation source coils 46.
[0038] The source coil 46 in the illustrated embodiment is
configured to deliver adequate source excitation magnetic fields,
which is defined by the area, number of turns, current, and other
characteristics of the coil. The source coil 46 is constructed with
conductors designed to minimize power loss due to resistive losses
as well as resistive losses due to skin effects. Examples include
small diameter wire wound in a LITZ wire configuration to minimize
skin effects, or alternatively, a thin sheet of conductor to
minimize skin effects. Parasitic interwinding capacitance of the
source coil inductor and interconnection conductors should also be
minimized to reduce unintended coil current spikes due to very
short switching network voltage transition times and other
unintended source coil resonant circuit affects.
[0039] The switching network 44 in the illustrated embodiment
includes a plurality of switches that control energy flow to the X,
Y, and Z coils 48, 50 and 52 These switches include X-switches 54
coupled to the X-coil 48, Y-switches 56 coupled to the Y-coil 50,
and Z-switches 58 coupled to the Z-coil 52. The X-switches 54
include a plurality of activatable switch mechanisms that control
the polarity of the voltage across the X-coil 48 so as to control
the polarity of the derivative with time of the current flow
through the X-coil. The Y-switches 56 control the polarity of the
voltage across the Y-coil 50 so as to control the polarity of the
derivative with time of the current flow through the Y-coil.
Similarly, the Z-switches 58 are configured to control the polarity
of the voltage across the Z-coil 52 so as to control the derivative
with time of the current flow through the Z-coil. The derivative
with time of the current flow at a particular voltage polarity
across a particular source coil results in either an increasing or
decreasing current ramp with time through the source coil.
[0040] In the illustrated embodiment, each of the X, Y, and Z
switches 54, 56, and 58 have an H-bridge configuration with four
switch mechanisms controlled to selectively direct electrical
current through the respective X, Y, or Z coil 48, 50, and 52,
thereby generating a pulsed magnetic field from the respective
source coil.
[0041] The X, Y, and Z switches 50, 56, and 58 are also each
configured to alternately switch between first and second "on"
positions to generate a current flow with a bipolar waveform. In
the first "on" position, the current flow in one has a continually
increasing current ramp with time through the respective X, Y, or Z
coil 48, 50 or 52 to generate the magnetic excitation field. In the
second "on" position, the current flow has a continually decreasing
current ramp with time through the respective X, Y, or Z coil 48,
50 or 52 to generate the magnetic excitation field. Such alternate
switching over the pulse waveform period effectively provides for
alternating the polarity of the current flow from a positive
polarity to a negative polarity. The X, Y, and Z switches 54, 56,
and 58 are also configured to alternately transfer stored energy
from the energy storage device 42 to the respective X, Y, or Z axis
source coil 48, 50, or 52 and to transfer the stored energy from
the respective source coil back to the energy storage device when
alternating switching between the first and second "on"
positions.
[0042] The X, Y, and Z switches 54, 56, and 58 are also configured
to move to an "off" position to prevent energy transfer from the
energy storage device 42 to the respective X, Y, or Z coils 48, 50,
or 52. Once the X, Y, or Z switch 54, 56, or 58 is switched to the
"off" position at the appropriate time when the energy (i.e. the
current) in the source coil is substantially zero, the respective
X, Y, or Z coil 48, 50, or 52 no longer generates a magnetic field
such that the pulsed excitation signal 20 ceases, so only the
marker signal 22 emanates from the marker assembly 14 is
measurable.
[0043] The alternating current flow through the X, Y, or Z coil 48,
50, or 52 generates the pulsed magnetic field in the selected axis
to excite the marker assembly 14 located at a determinable distance
from the coil. The following is an equation for calculation of the
magnetic field excitation at a distance from a source coil inductor
of a solenoid shape: 1 B marker ( distance ) = 0 I source r source
2 N source 2 ( r source Distance 2 ) 3 2
[0044] Where:
[0045] B.sub.marker(distance)=magnetic field flux density at a
distance from the source coil along the coil axis
[0046] .mu..sub.o=permeability of free space between the source
coil and the marker assembly
[0047] r.sub.source=Radius of the source coil (meters)
[0048] N.sub.source=Number of turns of wire around the source
coil
[0049] Distance=distance from the source coil (meters)
[0050] I.sub.source=Electrical current through source coil
(amperes)
[0051] The electrical current (I.sub.source) through the X, Y, or Z
coil 48, 50, or 52 is determined by the voltage applied across the
coil inductance (L). The inductance (L) of an air core coil
(solenoid) is approximated by: 2 L = ( o r source 2 N source 2 )
length source
[0052] Where:
[0053] L=Inductance of the source coil
[0054] P=permeability of free space
[0055] r.sub.source=Radius of the source coil (meters)
[0056] N.sub.source=Number of turns of wire around the source
coil
[0057] length.sub.source=Length of source coil (meters)
[0058] The inductance of the source coil determines the electrical
current derivative with time through source coil inductor as
follows:
V=L*dl/dt or V/L=dl/dt
[0059] Where:
[0060] V=voltage potential across the coil (volts)
[0061] L=Inductance of the source coil
[0062] dl/dt=The change in coil current with time
[0063] To efficiently transfer energy to a coil and create the
magnetic excitation field, power losses due to resistance in the
source coil circuit should be minimized. The power (i.e., RMS
power) in the system is determined as follows:
P=I.sup.2R.sub.TOTAL
[0064] Where:
[0065] I=Root Mean Square value of the current
[0066] R.sub.TOTAL=Total resistance in the source coil circuit
[0067] The power losses of the system 10 limits the strength of the
magnetic excitation field that the system is capable of delivering.
The strength of the magnetic excitation field decreases with the
cube the distance from the magnetic field source (e.g., the source
coil 46). Furthermore, the magnetic excitation field increases
linearly with current, but the power dissipation in the system
increases as the square of the current. Accordingly, the
requirements for source drive electronics become more challenging
to allow for adequate levels of the marker signal 22 as the
magnetic excitation field requirements increase.
[0068] In one embodiment, the source coil 46 can be operated as a
tuned circuit wherein the source coil inductor is tuned with a
capacitor chosen for the desired resonant frequency of the marker
assembly 14. The reactance of the inductor is equal to and opposite
the capacitor at the frequency of interest, such that only the
resistance of the source coil circuit is seen by the drive
electronics. Substantial stored energy can occur in the tuned
circuit, however, that may limit the time in which the source coil
excitation signal is shutoff. Longer shut-off time reduces the time
during which the marker resonator signal can be measured
effectively in the absence of the source signal. Accordingly, a
shorter shutoff time can be very desirable. A shorter shutoff time
also allows for adequate marker ring down signal to remain after
the source signal has decayed such that the marker signal may be
measured at a sufficient signal to noise ratio for accurate
location of the marker.
[0069] The system 10 of the one embodiment provides an untuned
source coil 46 configured to excite the leadless marker assembly's
resonator with the pulsed excitation signal 20 having a high level
of source excitation energy. The system 10 also provides a very
short source excitation turnoff time to achieve optimal performance
for measuring the marker signal 22 after the source excitation
signal 20 is significantly extinguished. Accordingly, the turnoff
time for an untuned source coil can have a significant impact on
the effectiveness of the system 10, so the system is configured to
have only limited stored energy after turnoff time. Therefore, the
pulsed source generator 18 of the system 10 is configured to
deliver high source coil current amplitudes at the optimal marker
excitation frequencies to energize the leadless markers 14 before
the time decaying marker ring down signal is measured.
[0070] FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a pulsed source
generator 18 of one embodiment. In this illustrated embodiment, a
high-voltage power supply 40 and energy storage device 42 are shown
coupled to a single switch network 44, which has a single H-bridge
switching configuration. This switch network 44 has four switches
62a-d coupled together so as to control the current flow to a
single source coil 64. In this embodiment, when multiple source
coils are used, each source coil is coupled to a separate switch
network, power supply, and energy storage device. In one
embodiment, a common energy storage device and a common power
supply for multiple switching networks and corresponding source
coils are used.
[0071] The switch network 44 of the illustrated embodiment with the
H-bridge configuration constructed of MOSFET devices. The switching
devices have a low "on" series of resistance (less than or equal to
approximately 1 ohm) to minimize power losses. Furthermore, very
short switching times (less than approximately 25 nanoseconds) are
provided to minimize switching induced power losses and maximum
excitation delivery. The short switching times allow for high
frequency system operation (for example, 50-600 Hz) that improves
overall system performance due to increases in inductive coupling
efficiencies between the source, marker, and sensor coils with
frequency. Alternate embodiments have switch networks 44 that
include one-half H-bridge configurations (having only two switches)
with a matched set of power supplies and two matched energy storage
devices configured to deliver a bipolar voltage drive to the source
coil 46. The alternative switching components can include bipolar
junction transistors (BJT), JFETs, and various possible vacuum tube
configurations.
[0072] The power supply 40 directs charge to and maintains a
relatively constant energy storage level at the energy storage
device 42 by delivering average power to the energy storage device.
The amplitude of the charging current is large enough to compensate
for average power consumption in the pulse generator and keep the
energy storage device at a relatively constant voltage. The energy
storage capacitor must be large enough to minimize voltage droop
during pulse generation and capable of both supplying high
instantaneous power to the switch network and returning high
instantaneous power from the switch network 44. The following
example for one embodiment has equations for both calculation of
the power supply average power and pulse generator instantaneous
power delivery:
1 V.sub.cap = 500 V Capacitor charge voltage R.sub.switching = 2.0
ohm Total resistance in "on" state (2 switches closed at a time)
R.sub.coil = 0.25 ohm Source coil resistance
R.sub.energy.sub..sub.--.sub.storage.sub..sub.--.sub.d- evice =
0.05 ohm Energy storage device resistance I.sub.L(rms) = 4.8 amps
Source coil rms current Duty cycle = 50% % of time generator is
pulsing
[0073] P.sub.Power.sub..sub.--.sub.supply
(average)=(2+0.25+0.05)*(4.8)2*0- .5 Watts
[0074] P.sub.Power.sub..sub.--.sub.supply (average)=26 watts
[0075] P.sub.instantaneous(during pulsing)=500V*4.8 amps RMS=2,400
VA RMS
[0076] To maintain constant energy storage:
[0077] I.sub.power.sub..sub.--.sub.supply
(average)=P.sub.Power.sub..sub.-- -.sub.supply
(average)/V.sub.cap
[0078] I.sub.power.sub..sub.--.sub.supply
(average)=26W/500V=52milli Ampere
[0079] The switch network 44 is configured so pairs of the switches
62a-d are opened and closed simultaneously when the other pair of
switches are simultaneously closed and opened. As a result, the
switch network 44 is configured to control the voltage across the
source coil 64 in alternating polarities. As a result, the current
flow through the source coil 64 alternates between positive and
negative polarity over the pulsed magnetic excitation signal
waveform pulse burst time period. This alternating of the current
flow through the source coil between positive and negative polarity
results in the pulsed magnetic excitation signal 20 from the source
coil.
[0080] In one embodiment, the switch network 44 moves between the
first "on" position when switches 62b and 62c are closed and
switches 62a and 62d are open, and the second "on" position when
switches 62b and 62c are open and switches 62a and 62d are closed.
In this first "on" position, the voltage having a positive
direction across the source coil 64 increases the current over the
pulse "on" time through the source coil in the direction of arrow
65. In the second "on" position, the voltage having a negative
direction across the source coil 64 decreases the current over the
pulse "on" time through the source coil in the opposite direction
of arrow 65. The resulting pulsed excitation signal due to multiple
pulses over the pulse burst time period and the repetition
frequency of the pulse burst has determinable frequency components
corresponding to the resonant frequencies of the marker assemblies
14 for activation of the markers (not shown).
[0081] The switch network 44 also includes an "off" position that
opens the circuit to prevent the current from flowing to the source
coil. Accordingly, no magnetic field is generated and no pulsed
excitation signal 20 is emanated from the source coil 64. The
switch network 44 can be switched to the "off" position by opening
switched 62a and 62b and by turning 62c and 62d to a closed
position to shunt the source coil which allows for exponential
decay of residual energy in the source coil. The current then
circulates through one of the two switches 62c and 62d and one of
two H-bridge protection diodes 67 coupled to the switches depending
on the polarity of the residual current. The residual current in
the source coil decays by the following exponential time
constant:
.tau.=L.sub.sc/(R.sub.L+R.sub.switch+R.sub.protection.sub..sub.--.sub.diod-
e)
[0082] where:
[0083] L.sub.sc=Source coil inductance
[0084] R.sub.L=Source coil resistance
[0085] R.sub.switch=Switch "on" resistance
[0086] R.sub.protection.sub..sub.--.sub.diode=Protection diode "on"
resistance
[0087] As a result, the switch network 44 is controllable to
control the pulsed excitation signal 20 and can be switched to the
"off" position to terminate the excitation signal after the marker
assemblies have been sufficiently energized. When the excitation
signal is off, the marker signals 22 do not have to be
distinguished from the excitation signal 20 when the marker signal
is being measured and analyzed as discussed above.
[0088] In an alternate embodiment, the switch network 44 can be
switched to the "off" position by opening by opening all switches
62a-d. However, care must be taken to assure that little residual
energy remains in the source coil 64 at the time all switches are
turned "off", otherwise inductive kick back induced voltage spikes
due to an instantaneous current change through the inductor with
time may damage the switch network or result in undesired
oscillations of the residual current in the source coil.
[0089] FIG. 5 is a schematic voltage diagram showing the bipolar
voltage across a source coil 64 to generate the pulsed excitation
signal. The voltage is controlled by activating the switch network
44, as discussed above with respect to FIG. 4. When the switch
network 44 is switched to the first "on" position, the voltage
across the source coil 64 is positive as shown in FIG. 5 at
reference number 66, thereby providing a positive polarity. When
the switch network 44 is switched to the second "on" position, the
voltage across the source coil 64 shifts and is negative as shown
in FIG. 5 at reference number 68, thereby providing a negative
polarity.
[0090] The switch network 44 (FIG. 4) alternates between the first
and second "on" positions so as to alternate the voltage across the
source coil 64 between the positive and negative polarities. When
the switch network 44 is switched to the first "on" position,
energy is drawn from the capacitor 42 toward the source coil 64.
When the switch network 44 is switched to the second "on" position,
energy is directed back to the capacitor 42 until the time when the
current changes polarity and then energy is again drawn from the
capacitor. When the switch network 44 is switched back to the first
"on" position, then energy is again directed back to the capacitor
42 until the time when the current changes polarity again and then
energy is again drawn from the capacitor. As a result, the
switching network 44 is configured to alternately transfer stored
energy from the energy storage device 42 to the source coil 64 and
to transfer the storage energy from the source coil back to the
energy storage device when alternately switching between the first
and second "on" positions.
[0091] In one embodiment, the switch network 44 is configured so
that the switches 62a-d (FIG. 4) are in the first "on" position for
the same total time period for a particular pulse burst that they
are in the second "on" position. Accordingly, the time period at
the positive polarity is the same time period as the negative
polarity for the voltage across the source coil 64. When the switch
network 44 is switched to the "off" position, the voltage across
the source coil 64 is zero, as reflected at reference 70 in the
voltage diagram. When the current through the source coil 64 (FIG.
4) is zero, the source coil provides no excitation signal 20 that
would interfere with the marker signal 22 generated by the marker
assembly 14 as discussed above. Accordingly, the switch network 44
is in the "off" position during the measurement phase when the
marker signal 22 is detected and measured for determining the
marker assembly's location in three dimensional space.
[0092] FIG. 6 is a schematic bipolar current diagram corresponding
to the voltage diagram of FIG. 5. Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6,
when the switch network 44 (FIG. 4) is in the first "on" position
corresponding so the voltage has a positive polarity 66 (FIG. 5),
the current flow through the source coil 64 (FIG. 4) has a
continually increasing current ramp 70 (FIG. 6) so as to generate
the magnetic excitation field 20 with the positive polarity. When
the switch network 44 (FIG. 4) is in the second "on" position
corresponding to the negative polarity 68 (FIG. 5), the current
flow has a continually decreasing current ramp 72 (FIG. 6). When
the switch network 44 switches back to the first "on" position, the
current flow switches back to an increasing current ramp 70.
Accordingly, the current flow has a bipolar, generally
non-sinusoidal triangular shaped waveform.
[0093] As seen in FIG. 6, when the current flow switches
directions, for example from the decreasing current ramp 72 to the
increasing current ramp 70, there is a point shown at 74 at which
the current in the source coil is substantially at zero amps.
Similarly, when the current flow has the decreasing current ramp
72, there is a point shown at 76 at which the current in the source
coil 64 (FIG. 4) is at zero amps. The switch network 44 is
configured to switch to the "off" position when the current flow
through the source coil 64 is substantially at these zero points 74
and 76, and thus at zero amps. When the current in the source coil
64 approaches zero amps, the signal decay time for the pulsed
excitation signal 20 approaches zero, such that the pulsed
excitation signal is substantially instantaneously shut off so as
to provide no interference with the marker signal 22 generated by
the energized marker assembly 14.
[0094] When the switch network 44 is switched to the "off"
position, the extent of signal decay over time of the source coil
64 current is a function of the resistance in the switch network as
well as resistance and inductance in the source coil circuitry. In
the illustrated embodiment, the switch network 44 and source coil
64 are configured such that when the switch network is switched to
the "off" position, any pulsed excitation signal 20 from the source
coil is immeasurable within approximately one cycle of the
energized marker assembly. Therefore, the sensor array 16 (FIG. 1)
and the signal processor 28 are configured to begin measuring the
marker signal 22 after one cycle of the marker assemblies 14.
[0095] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a pulsed source generator 90
having a pulse extinguisher circuit 100 therein in accordance with
an alternate embodiment. In this alternate embodiment, the pulsed
source generator 90 includes the power supply 40 and the energy
storage device 42 coupled to the switch network 44 similar to the
embodiments discussed above. The switch network 44 is also coupled
to the source coil 64. The switch network 44 is also connected to
the pulse extinguisher circuit 100 in parallel with the source coil
inductor, such that the pulse extinguisher circuit does not conduct
current during pulse generation. The pulsed source generator 90 of
this alternate embodiment provides the switch network 44 moveable
between the first "on" position, the second "on" position as
discussed above, and an "off" position where all of the switches,
62a-62d, are opened. When the switch network 44 is switched to the
"off" position, the pulse extinguisher circuit 100 switches 104 are
closed to quickly dissipate the residual energy in the source coil
64 so as to limit the time that an excitation field continues to be
generated after the switch network has been moved to the "off"
position.
[0096] The pulse extinguisher circuit 100 is configured to include
a pair of resistors 102 and switches 104 that can be activated to
quickly dissipate the residual energy in the source coil when the
circuit is closed and to interrupt the current flow through the
extinguisher circuit when the switches 104 are open during
excitation pulse generation. At the end of a pulse burst, the
residual source coil current is conducted through one of the two
switches 104, one of the two resistors 102 and an H-bridge
protection diode 105, depending on the polarity of the residual
current. Pairs of switches 104 and resistors 102 are provided so
the residual current may be either of a positive or negative
polarity. The time constant for de-energizing the source coil
inductor is determined by the following equation:
.tau.=L.sub.sc/(R.sub.L+R.sub.switch+R.sub.protection.sub..sub.--.sub.diod-
e+R.sub.pulse.sub..sub.--.sub.extingutsher)
[0097] Where:
[0098] L.sub.sc=Source coil inductance
[0099] R.sub.L=Source coil resistance
[0100] R.sub.switch=Switch "on" resistance
[0101] R.sub.protection.sub..sub.--.sub.diode=Protection diode "on"
resistance
[0102] R.sub.pulse.sub..sub.--.sub.extinguisher=Pulse extinguisher
resistor resistance
[0103] The pulse extinguisher circuit's resistors 102 decrease the
exponential decay time constant of residual current in the source
coil by adding additional resistance to the source coil circuit
only during turnoff time. As a result, the pulse extinguisher
circuit 100 decreases the turnoff time of the source generator and
does not decrease the overall energy efficiency or power
dissipation of the pulsed source generator 90.
[0104] In the illustrated embodiment, the pulse extinguisher
circuit 100 is configured so that no measurable or detectable
excitation field remains after the switch network 44 has been moved
to the "off" position within less than one cycle of the resonating
marker assembly 14 (FIG. 1). Accordingly, the pulse extinguisher
circuit 100 facilitates the termination of the pulsed excitation
signal 20 so that the resonating marker assembly 14 can be easily
detectable and located with the signal processing assembly 28 to
accurately identify the three-dimensional location of the
resonating marker assembly relative to the sensor array 16.
[0105] While the pulse extinguisher circuit 100 is defined in the
illustrated embodiment as providing the resistors 102 and switches
104, with additional protection diodes 105, other pulse
extinguisher circuits can be used so as to increase the resistance
of the total source coil circuit when the switch network is in the
"off" position. The alternate pulse extinguisher circuits should
not increase system power dissipation and decrease energy
efficiency by adding additional switch resistance during pulse
delivery because of its presence.
[0106] Although specific embodiments of, and examples for, the
present invention are described herein for illustrative purposes,
various equivalent modifications can be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention, as will be recognized by
those skilled in the relevant art. The teachings provided herein of
the present invention can be applied to systems for excitation of
leadless miniature markers, not necessarily the exemplary system
generally described above.
[0107] From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although
specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein
for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made
without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended
claims.
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